On June 21st, which in the Maya calendar fell on the day 7 Tz’i’, the summer solstice marked a moment of transition between the cycles of nature. For Maya peoples, the observation of the sun, moon, and stars has long been a source of knowledge passed down through generations, guiding the times of planting and harvest, strengthening community life, and nurturing a relationship of respect and gratitude with Mother Earth and the Universe. The solstice invites us to reflect on the cycles of life, to give thanks for what we have received, and to care for those who gives us life.
In that spirit, this month’s Solidarity Update brings together stories of communities in Guatemala who, in their own ways, are doing exactly that: tending to the earth, honoring their dead, and defending the future.
🌱 Nine years ago, the Xinka people of Casillas drew a line in the ground. They have not moved. Read about the anniversary of the Peaceful Resistance of Casillas and the resounding NO the Xinka Parliament delivered to the Escobal mine in May 2025.
🎭 In Copal AA La Esperanza, every year children take to the streets in recycled-material- costumes to celebrate the earth and call out those who would take it from them. This year’s Mother Earth Festival was no exception: students staged scenes of backroom deals between politicians and executives, denouncing the corporate and state interests that threaten their river and land. NISGUA accompanied the festival.
🕯️ June 21st is Guatemala’s National Day Against Forced Disappearance. This year, 450 chairs filled Plaza de Las Niñas (Guatemala City’s central plaza), each one with a photograph of a disappeared person facing the Presidential Palace. Read about the commemoration and a new government mechanism that offers families a step to finding their loved ones.
As you read these stories, we invite you to carry with you the spirit of the solstice: to pause, to reflect on what sustains you, and to ask yourself what you are willing to defend.
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